Bedroom Decorating Ideas: Modern and Sophisticated

In the bedroom, a careful blend between modern and traditional yields sophisticated results. Graceful curves, classic palettes, and pretty details combine with bold colors, contemporary patterns, and strong lines to create a wonderful and ever-stylish fusion.

In this master bedroom, an intense turquoise pairs with rich chocolate browns in a masterful mix of masculine and feminine. A tufted headboard with a curvaceous white lacquer frame provides a striking contrast to the masculine ikat textile that upholsters the padded walls and the striped woven leather rug that spans the floor.

This mod-inspired bedroom captures the spirit of the 1960s while highlighting modern lines and patterns. A powerful orange velvet headboard floats in front of a wall of white sheers. Vintage bedside table lamps are updated with bubblegum pink shades. Hot tangerine and coral create drama against glossy white walls and furnishings.

A retro sunburst above the bed serves as the focal point of this showhouse bedroom, designed by Matt Murphy. A long area rug designed by Murphy was inspired by the lines of a man’s tailored suit; pops of bright color add a dose of informality to the space. The graphic lines of the rug complement the sharp lines of the room’s modern furniture.

“I have a consistent personal style that rides the fence between traditional and modern,” Murphy explains. “I like rooms with classic lines and contemporary forms, but with a level of formality.”

Hot pink wraps this bedroom in no-frills glam. A shapely vintage mirror hangs above the bed, reminiscent of Victorian days but with a utilitarian edge. An antique French chair gets a mod makeover with hot pink Ultrasuede, and a classic dresser is plated with mirrors for a touch of shine. Pink flowers stand out against white on the bedspread, elevating the contemporary look.

Textures mix and mingle in this Los Angeles loft designed by Kenneth Brown. Intriguing large-scale wallpaper enlarges the space, while drapery made of black waxed linen creates height. Sexy faux-fur covers the faux-crocodile bed. A Parisian street map is cut into tenths and framed individually to create a geometric pattern against the plum-colored paisley print.

Custom wall treatments in this blue bedroom extend to the ceiling, where a lacy pattern was stenciled for an ultra-feminine effect. A contemporary chandelier from Currey & Company lights the space, its texture complementing the clean lines on the bookcase, wooden flooring, and area rug.

San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge was the inspiration behind this spectacular showhouse bedroom. Manila ropes fastened to the ceiling suspend the bed in midair. Organic materials, soft lighting, and natural hues remind guests of the serenity of the bay outside.

Designer Gary Mertin raised the bedroom’s ceiling and added beams to create a vertical dynamic. The walls are painted a light blue to maintain the desired soothing effect without detracting from the strong grays and browns. A gray coverlet softens the rich chocolate bed frame, and an original acrylic painting hangs above the fireplace.

Soft and playful colors wrap this room in sweet serenity. Crisscross- and trellis-patterned fabric and wallpaper keep a light geometric pattern flowing throughout. The bedroom’s centerpiece is an iron bed by Niermann Weeks. Curtains extend over the closet space, adding texture and contour to the pink walls. Shots of color in the pillows and artwork ensure that the room stays lively.

Color takes the reigns in this showhouse guest room, designed by Wayne Nathan and Carol Egan. They were inspired by ethnic heritages and multinational pieces, like the elegant but organic Japanese bed and the African mud chandelier hanging above. Textiles on the bed and window curtains pop with vibrant color; the artwork above the bed was covered in blue Lucite to maintain the playful scheme.

Anchored by the commanding poster bed flanked by twin tables and end-noted with matching white-painted side chairs, this showhouse bedroom is pure symmetry. A skyscraping tufted headboard maximizes vertical space in the long room. Lamps are from Circa Lighting; bed linens and duvet are from Beacon Hill.

A regal chandelier and matching wall sconces mix with satin bolster pillows and twin platinum gourd lamps flanking the bed. One of the most compelling design components of this master bedroom is the presentation of art above the bed. The repeating mini-squares are framed rubber ducks—a bit of humor that packs a wallop of strong graphics.

This monochromatic master suite is awash in elegant pale green with soft accents of cream and stone. An ivory console table with a contrasting turquoise top and drawers makes a striking bedside table. A bed upholstered in a geometric-patterned brown-and-cream fabric adds a contemporary note to the room.

Taking their cue from the world of haute couture and Paris runways, designers Skye Kirby and Diane Karmen started with an elegant lilac base, then sprinkled a smattering of accessories and jewel-like accents throughout. Lush linens dress the glam four-poster bed. A mirrored bed frame and glimmering dresser add sparkle.

Floating the custom wing bed in the middle of the master bedroom was a bold move by designer Denise Macey. The outcome was a beautifully symmetrical room with plenty of space left around the bedroom for additional seating and larger furnishings. Beyond the bed are the dressing room, closet, and master bathroom.

A tufted custom bed that recalls the style of an old English knole sofa cements this guest room’s unique feel. Designers Benjamin Bradley and David Thiergartner say that the bed was made for guests to “feel very cosseted and safe when lying there,” explains Bradley. The room’s momentum builds with the shaggy rope chair from Holly Hunt, a globe collection, and art by Michael Allen Lowe displayed on an easel.

A bold red-and-white Decortex fabric dresses the windows and the Euro shams on the bed. Cowhide panels on the floor add unique charm. A Chelsom Lighting fixture and Phillip Plein leather headboard speak to a modern sensibility.

A light-hearted mix of artwork, color, and pattern echoes in this master bedroom. A palette of cool gray coats the space in serenity; shots of color in the bed pillows maintains the energy level. A sculptural silver-leaf pendant light from World’s Away hangs from the vaulted ceiling above.

A tall hotel-style headboard upholstered with mohair adds the illusion of height in this room. Shimmering fabrics, mirrors, and Lucite bedside lamps add a touch of glamour. The colors of the Fortuny-style painted silk chandelier sparked the moody color palette.

The palette for this master bedroom is toned down for serenity. “Hot House Flowers” printed linen by Celerie Kemble adorns the headboard, pillows, chairs, and a bench. The dusty blue floral pattern complements the geometric walls and Tamarian rug in similar hues.

With the low, wide bed, intriguing artwork, and plenty of pattern, this master bedroom reads contemporary while still appearing restful. The custom “Rosettes” carpet from Stark injects dynamic movement into the serenity created with custom-painted walls by Donald Kaufman Color. The artwork above the bed and with the painted-mirror bedside cabinet from Mitchell Yanosky Custom Finishes lend dreamlike whimsy.

This master bedroom goes glam with traditional architecture and modern furnishings. Contemporary sass comes in the form of a gilt-trimmed custom iron-and-upholstery bed by Smiley, custom antique-mirrored bedside chests, and vintage Murano glass lamps. Busy circular fabric on the bed is balanced with the Greek key pattern on the caramel leather benches and the clean lines of the area rug.